Back-pedaling brake.



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rammed Feb. 13, I900.

, BACK PED'AALING BRAKE.

(Application filed 0ct.20, Q1898.)

Fl y Iforxjcys,

NITED STATE PATENT 1 OFFICE.

HOUSTON S. BAKER, OF IIOLLAN DALE, MISSISSIPPI.

BACKQPEDALING BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 643,450, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed October 20,1899.

Serial No. 734,256. (No model.)

To 6052 iuhom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HOUSTON S. BAKER, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Hollandale, in the county of Washington and State of Mississippi, have in vented a new and useful Back-Pedalin g Brake, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to bicycles in general, and more particularly to the driving mechanism thereof, and it specifically relates to the brake mechanism which is operated from the cranks.

The object of the invention is to provide a construction in which as the pedals are moved forwardly they will have adriving action upon the cranksprOcket', when held stationary the crank-sprocket will run free, and when rotated rearwardly will'act to apply the brake.- These results are accomplishedby means of a ratchet arrangement between the cranlc sprocket and an adjacent crank, by means of which the cranks are fixed with respect to the sprocket, when rotated in one direction, and

through the medium of a brake-disk upon the crank-axle having a ratchet connect-ion with the second crank, which acts to engage the disk with the crank when the latter is rotated rearwardly, the brake-disk having connection with a'brake-block upon the rear-wheel hub.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification and in which similarnumerals of reference designate like and corresponding parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the drive mechanism and the adjacent portions of the bicycle and illustrating the application of the brake and ratchet mechanisms. Fig. 2 is a detail perspecti-ve showing the crank-axle with the cranks, the crank-sprocket, and the brakedisk applied thereto. Fig. 3 is a detail per spective showing the brake-block. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the crank-sprocket, taken through one of the pawls. Fig. 5 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, showing means for adjusting the cranksprocket upon the crank-shaft.

Referring now to the drawings, 5 represents the bottom bar,6 the scat-tube, 7 a tie-rod, and 8 a rear-fork side of a bicycle-frame of the usual construction, the bottom bar and seat-tube beingconnected to the crank-hanger,

together with the tie-rod, infthe usual manner.

In the crank-hanger is journaled a crank shaft 9, having cranks 10 fixed to its extremities, the rear ends of the cranks beingsquared, as shown. A crank-sprocket 11 is mounted loosely upon the shaft 9 in the usual position and is in the form of apreferably fiat disk, the adjacent crank 10 being bent inwardly at opposite sides of the crank-shaft in order to lie close to the outer face of the sprocket, therear end of one of said cranks adjacent the crank-sprocket being projected rearwardly beyond the crank-shaft, as shown in Fig. 2.

The crank-sprocket 11 carries a plurality of spring-pressed pawls 13, which are in the form of blocks movably disposed within and closely fitting slots 11 in the sprocket. The projecting ends of these blocks are cut away to form a slant or incline 15 to permit the riding of the ends of the adjacent cranks thereupon when the crank is rotated rearwardly, these blocks being held yieldably in position through the medium of spring-plates 16, attached thereto and to the inner face of the sprocket, the plates projecting beyond the blocks to limit the outward movement of the Any number of these pawls may be ldfarthest from the sprocket 11, this disk.

having an opening similar to those in the sprocket 11. In this opening of the disk 17 is disposed aspring-pressed pawl 18, having the same construction and arrangement as the pawls in the sprocket 17. This pawl 18 projects into the path of the adjacent crank 10 to fixedly cngagethe latter when it is moved rearward'ly and to permit the crank passing freely thereover when moved forwardly. This brake-operating disk 17 has a connecting-rod 19 pivoted thereto, which block is in'the form of a pitm an-head and reaches rearwardly to a brake-block disposed upon thehub of the rear wheel. This brakecomprises an inner end portion 20, having a perforation 21 for attachment of the rod 19,

and an outer portion 22,

. portion 20 through the medium of the usual adjusting-bolts 23. The parts and 22 are cut away at their adjacent edges to fit upon the hub of the rear wheel, which latter is provided with a brake-drum of the usual construction. When the pedals are moved rearwardly, the pawl 18 is engaged by the adjacent crank and acts to lock the brake-operat ing disk to the crank, so that the disk is moved rearwardly and draws the outer portion 22 against the brake-drum of the rear-wheel hub to stop the movement of the machine.

It will of course be understood thatin practice adiiferent'construction and arrangement of pawl may be employed and that various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In order to clamp the sprocketll firmly against the portion 17, a sleeve is mounted loosely upon the shaft 9, and engaging the exterior threads of this sleeve is a thumb-nut 31, having an inwardly-directed fiange 32, which closely encircles the shaft. Thus by adjusting the nut 31 upon the sleeve the ag-' gregate length of the nut and sleeve may be varied and the inner end of the nut may be caused to impinge against the end of the crank-hanger, while the outer end of the sleeve rests against the sprocket and may be' caused to force it outwardly. A set-nut 33 holds the sleeve and nut in their proper adjusted positions. Also, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in order to prevent the-noise of the spring-plate 16'striking against the adjacent sprockets there is placed a sheet ofrubber 34 between the plate and the sprocket.

What is claimed is-- 1. In a vehicle, the combination with a crank-axle and a drive-wheel,of a sprocket mounted loosely upon the crank-axle and hav' ing pawls mounted therein and projecting at right angles to the face thereof, a crank upon thecrank-axle adapted to engage with said pawls in one direction and to pass over them in the opposite direction, connections between theg vcrank-sprocket and the drive-wheel, a

zbi'a'ke-disk mounted loosely upon the crankaxle and having a pawl projecting at right angles to the face thereof adapted for enconnected with the gagement by the adjacent crank when moved in one direction and to permit free movement of said, crank in the opposite direction, and a brake having connections with the brake-disk for operation thereby.

2. In a vehicle, the combination with a cran k-axle and a drive-wheel carrying a brakedrum, of a sprocket-upon the crank-axle and having openings therethrough, pawls disposed in the openings and projecting from the face of the sprocket at right angles thereto, a crank fined to the crank-axle and adapted for engagement with the pawls to rotateflthe sprocket in one direction and to move freely over thepawls in the opposite direction, a sprocket upon the drive-wheel connected with the crank-sprocket, a brake-operating disk mounted loosely upon the crankeshaft, an opening in the disk, a pawl disposed in said opening, a crank fixed to the crank-shaft and adapted for engagement with the pawl of thecircling the brake-drum, and connections be-,

tween the'brake and the disk the brake. I

3. In a vehicle, the combination with a crank-axle and a drive-wheel, of a cranksprocket loose upon the axle and having openfor operating ings therein, spring-pressed pawls mounted loosely in the openings, and adapted to project outwardly therethrough, a crank fixed to the crank-axle and adapted ment with the and to move freely over the pawl'when moved rearwardly, a sprocket upon the drive-wheel having connections with the crank-sprocket, a disk mounted upon the crank-axle, an opening in said disk having a spring-pressedpawl disposed loosely therein, a crank fixed to the crank-axle and adapted to engage the pawl when moved rearwardly and to pass freely over the pawl when moved forwardly, a brakedrum upon the rear wheel, a brake disposed upon the drum, and connections between the for engagepawl when moved forwardly brake and the disk for operating the brake.

p In testimonythat I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HOUSTON S. BAKER.

Witnesses:

' Gno. WHEATLEY, SAM. A. MAYER. 

